Written Answers Tuesday 11 November 2008

Scottish Executive

Alcohol Misuse

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is encouraging police forces to work in partnership with local authorities, health and other agencies to establish best practice in dealing with drunk and incapable people.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government, working with the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, the Scottish Ambulance Service and the NHS, commissioned research on drunk and incapable people in June 2008. This aims to identify the potential scale of the problem in Scotland, and to identify different models of support practised by all relevant agencies including local authorities, both in Scotland and elsewhere, to establish the key elements of successful approaches.

  A set of conclusions and recommendations on how best to manage people who are drunk and incapable to help alleviate the unnecessary pressure on emergency services is expected in the New Year.

  Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is available for alcohol referral schemes in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11, expressed in real terms.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government provides funding for alcohol services through NHS boards and local alcohol and drug action teams (ADATs). It is for ADATs and boards to decide which services to fund based on identified local need.

  £24.86 million has been distributed to NHS boards in 2008-09 to fund alcohol services. Funding allocations to boards for 2009-10 and 2010-11 have not yet been finalised.

  Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) percentage and (b) number of under-18s admitted to accident and emergency departments suffering from alcohol-related problems had obtained their alcohol from a parental home.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) percentage and (b) number of under 18s identified by the police as having consumed alcohol had obtained their alcohol from a parental home.

Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not held centrally.

  The Scottish Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey 2006 provides some information on sources of alcohol for 13 and 15-year-olds. 61% of 13-year-olds and 39% of 15-year-olds who had ever had a drink didn’t purchase the alcohol. This suggests that it was obtained from other sources such as family and friends. Also, of those who had purchased alcohol, 22% of 13-year-olds and 29% of 15-year-olds had purchased from a friend or relative.

  Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is available for alcohol-free activities for under-18s in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11, expressed in real terms.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government has provided a range of funding to support diversionary activities for young people. It is not possible to specify which of this targets only under-18s.

  Under the CashBack for Communities initiative we have invested £11 million in a range of projects for young people delivered through partnerships with Scottish sporting, arts and business associations all of which are of course alcohol-free. We have also provided £100,000 to Lloyds TSB partnership drugs initiative for alcohol misuse work.

  Figures for 2009-10 and 2010-11 are not available.

  Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been given to licence holders with regard to customers buying alcohol for under-18s.

Nicola Sturgeon: Guidance is given to prospective personal licence holders as part of the training required by the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005. Before a personal licence can be granted, the applicant must possess a licensing qualification. The training which leads to the award of a qualification includes training in respect of the offences under the Act.

  Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals have been prosecuted for buying alcohol for under-18s in each year that this has been an offence and what the level of punishment was in each case.

Nicola Sturgeon: The following table gives the number of people prosecuted for this offence under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976.

  Persons Proceeded Against in Scottish Courts for Purchasing Excise Liquor for Consumption by Persons Aged Under 18 1, 1977-78 to 2006-07

  

Financial Year
Main Result of Proceedings


Not Guilty
Admonished
Community Sentence
Monetary Penalty
Custody
Other Penalty2
Total


1977-78
3
6
-
65
-
1
75


1978-79
5
7
-
71
-
2
85


1979-80
4
5
-
62
-
-
71


1980-81
8
4
1
68
-
-
81


1981-82
6
8
-
35
-
-
49


1982-83
4
5
1
45
-
1
56


1983-84
11
9
-
55
-
2
77


1984-85
6
1
1
42
-
-
50


1985-86
7
5
-
43
-
1
56


1986-87
4
3
-
34
-
-
41


1987-88
6
5
-
59
-
-
70


1988-89
11
5
-
68
-
-
84


1989-90
9
7
1
52
-
1
70


1990-91
7
8
-
42
1
1
59


1991-92
4
4
-
50
-
-
58


1992-93
7
6
1
43
-
-
57


1993-94
6
4
1
44
-
-
55


1994-95
6
6
-
49
-
-
61


1995-96
9
4
-
60
-
1
74


1996-97
6
5
2
94
-
2
109


1997-98
14
13
1
109
1
-
138


1998-99
10
11
2
54
-
-
77


1999-2000
2
2
-
33
-
-
37


2000-01
6
5
2
41
-
1
55


2001-02
7
5
-
48
-
-
60


2002-03
2
5
2
32
-
-
41


2003-04
3
5
1
49
-
-
58


2004-05
5
2
-
48
-
-
55


2005-06
3
11
-
71
-
2
87


2006-07
9
12
1
76
-
-
98



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. For example: Admonition and absolute discharge.

  Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many off-licenses in the Lothians have had their licences suspended for selling alcohol to people under 18 in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority.

Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to questions S3W-13979 and S3W-16777 on 16 June 2008 and 21 October 2008 respectively. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

  The reason for suspending a liquor licence is determined locally by liquor licensing boards and this information is not held centrally.

Community Service Orders

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the £1 million to improve delivery of community service orders, announced on 24 October 2008, including a breakdown of its allocation by criminal justice authority.

Kenny MacAskill: It is not possible at this stage to indicate the specific grant allocations for individual community justice authorities (CJAs) for the 2009-10 financial year in respect of the additional £1 million. Work is currently in progress on determining overall criminal justice social work services grant allocations for 2009-10 financial year of which the additional £1 million forms part. It is hoped to inform CJAs of their grant allocations for the next financial year by end December 2008.

  CJAs have been advised in writing of the position.

Concessionary Travel

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many appeals have been received from local authorities and bus operators regarding the operation of the concessionary fares scheme and whether any guidance has been issued on how such appeals should be resolved.

Stewart Stevenson: No appeals have been received from either local authorities or bus operators regarding the operation of the scheme. Guidance was issued to all bus operators when they were admitted to the scheme prior to its inception in April 2006. The Statutory Instrument (SSI No. 2006 107) also contains guidance on the appeals process.

Data Security

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list each occasion when information held by one of its departments or agencies has been lost or illegally accessed as a result of e-crime since May 2007, also indicating the date and name of agency or department.

John Swinney: There have been no centrally recorded incidents of e-crime having led to the loss or illegal accessing of information within the Scottish Executive or its agencies since May 2007.

Drug Misuse

Ian McKee (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the costs of supervised dispensing of methadone by community pharmacists were in the most recent year for which figures are available, broken down by NHS board.

Shona Robison: The cost of supervised dispensing of methadone by community pharmacists for the year 2007-08, broken down by NHS board, is set out in the following table.

  

NHS Board
Cost1,2(£)


Ayrshire and Arran
2,218,779


Borders
112,715


Dumfries and Galloway
609,197


Fife 
1,226,978


Forth Valley 
990,629


Grampian
2,100,936


Greater Glasgow and Clyde
11,588,654


Highland 
453,687


Lanarkshire
1,428,528


Lothian
3,663,332


Orkney
2,211


Shetland
22,985


Tayside
1,293,937


Western Isles
48


Total
25,712,616



  Notes:

  1. The figures include the gross ingredient cost, fees for dispensing, and fees for supervision.

  2. The figures reflect all centrally-held information. Some NHS boards pay supervising fees directly to community pharmacy contractors, and as such this data may be incomplete.

Education

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has issued guidance to local authorities on developing after-school activities.

Maureen Watt: Building the Curriculum 3: a framework for learning and teaching underlines the importance of recognising that the curriculum comprises more than subjects alone, but is also about other types of experiences such as outdoor learning, work-related activities and out of school hours learning. There is, however, no prescription since one of the intentions of Curriculum for Excellence is to provide teachers with the freedom to provide experiences in creative and imaginative ways that take account of local needs and circumstances.

  The draft experiences and outcomes for Curriculum for Excellence, which were published between January and June 2008 for trialling and engagement, contain a range of opportunities for schools and other educational establishments to encourage activities outwith the normal school day. For example, within health and wellbeing it is clear that the outcomes for physical activity and sport will take place in addition to planned PE sessions, at break times and lunchtimes and beyond the school day.

  The full set of finalised experiences and outcomes, supported by exemplification materials is due to be published in 2009.

  Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for the development of after-school activities in primary schools.

Maureen Watt: The role of the Scottish Government is to set the framework for learning and teaching. We are doing this through the Curriculum for Excellence programme.

  Building the Curriculum 3: a framework for learning and teaching underlines the importance of recognising that the curriculum comprises more than subjects alone, but is also about other types of experiences such as outdoor learning, work-related activities and out of school hours learning. To support this, the experiences and outcomes for Curriculum for Excellence contain a range of opportunities for schools and other educational establishments to encourage activities outwith the normal school day.

  It is for local authorities and schools to bring the experiences and outcomes together and apply the entitlements in Building the Curriculum 3 to provide experiences in creative and imaginative ways that take account of local needs and circumstances.

Electricity

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements exist for the simultaneous upgrading of electronic interconnectors between Scotland and England following devolution.

Jim Mather: The relevant transmission licensees, in this case Scottish Power Transmission and National Grid, are responsible for liaising together to identify possible upgrades to the electricity interconnector system.

  A detailed technical and economic case is then submitted to the energy regulator Ofgem. Following consultation with stakeholders, Ofgem will make a decision in relation to funding of the proposed upgrade. In the event that funding is approved, then the proposed development will be progressed through planning and delivery.

  Scottish Power Transmission and National Grid have invested heavily since the early 1990s to upgrade the Scottish export capacity from 850MW to the current figure of 2200MW. Work is well advanced to further increase export capacity to 2800MW by 2010. Further work has been funded by Ofgem to increase the export capability to 3100MW. This involves expenditure of around £250 million between National Grid and Scottish Power. This stage is scheduled for completion by 2013.

Enterprise

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses are eligible to apply to the Small Business Bonus Scheme.

John Swinney: Information on small businesses in the form requested is not held centrally. However, information on the number and rateable value of non-domestic properties which may be eligible for relief under the Small Business Bonus Scheme is available from the Scottish Assessors Portal ( www.saa.gov.uk ). This information is as follows:

  Total Number of Non-Domestic Properties

  

 
Rateable Value of Property


Up to £8,000
£8,001-£10,000
£10,001-£15,000
Total up to £15,000


Scotland
125,520
11,650
17,489
154,659



  Source: Scottish Assessors Portal as at 1 October 2008.

  Note:

  The number of eligible businesses will be lower than the number of non-domestic properties, because some businesses will have more than one property. This may affect eligibility for relief under the Small Business Bonus Scheme, which will depend on:

  the combined rateable value of all properties in Scotland for which the business is the ratepayer;

  whether the property is eligible for one of the existing rates relief schemes, and

  the level of other public sector assistance received by the business.

  Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses have applied to the Small Business Bonus Scheme.

John Swinney: Information on the number of applications for relief under the Small Business Bonus Scheme is not held centrally. Information will be available in due course on the number of business properties which have been awarded relief under the scheme, using information provided routinely by local authorities in regular statistical returns.

Ferry Services

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been advised by NorthLink Ferries of any job restructuring.

Stewart Stevenson: NorthLink Ferries Ltd advised us on 17 October 2008 that financial processing work currently located at its offices in Lerwick is to be relocated to Aberdeen and Gourock. This follows a decision by its parent company, David MacBrayne Ltd, to restructure financial processing functions within all of its subsidiary companies.

  Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the NorthLink Ferries contract requires ministerial consent for any changes to how the contract is administered.

Stewart Stevenson: The contract between Scottish ministers and NorthLink Ferries Ltd is a legally binding agreement that specifies the approved ferry services to be delivered. NorthLink cannot alter the terms and conditions of the contract or make changes to the approved ferry services without the agreement of Scottish ministers.

  Although the contract contains a detailed performance and deduction regime that enables financial penalties to be imposed on NorthLink in particular circumstances, it does not cover operational matters such as how many staff NorthLink should employ on particular functions or where they should be located. Such operational matters are for NorthLink to consider.

  Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the current NorthLink Ferries contract is sufficiently open and transparent.

Stewart Stevenson: We are satisfied that the Northern Isles ferry contract between Scottish ministers and NorthLink Ferries Ltd is sufficiently open and transparent.

  Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether changes to the location of key personnel for the NorthLink Ferries contract has any implications for the openness and transparency of this contract and for any future retendering of the route.

Stewart Stevenson: The location of individual staff posts is an operational matter for NorthLink to consider. In circumstances where changes resulted in NorthLink buying in services from a sister company, or any other company, it would be for NorthLink to agree appropriate commercial terms with the supplier of those services. Indeed, we understand that NorthLink already buys in work from other companies, including some from those within the David MacBrayne Ltd Group, on a commercial basis and that the contracts concerned ensure that the full costs are charged in all cases.

  Accordingly, the restructuring of financial processing functions within the Group would have no implications for the openness and transparency of the Northern Isles ferry contract with NorthLink Ferries Ltd.

  Bidders for future ferry contracts would need to make their own decisions on the number and location of staff they felt would be required to deliver the services being tendered. In doing so, they would also need consider whether the Transfer of Undertakings (TUPE) legislation would apply and reflect any relevant cost implications in their bids.

First Minister

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on what occasions since May 2007 the First Minister has met with (a) Cardinal Keith O’Brien, (b) the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, (c) representatives of the Jewish community, (d) representatives of the Muslim community and (e) interfaith bodies.

John Swinney: The First Minister has met the individuals and organisations above on the following occasions since May 2007:

  Cardinal Keith O’Brien

  30 May 2007: Lunch to discuss SCIAF work in Darfur

  19 June 2007: Reception on Sectarianism

  13 November 2007: Sword of State reception

  2 February 2008: Cardinal Winning Lecture

  20 February 2008: Anti-sectarian Art and Drama event

  11 March 2008: Reception for the Apostolic Nuncio

  21 May 2008: Opening St Matthews Academy, Saltcoats

  26 June 2008: Launch of Scottish Islamic Foundation

  9 October 2008: Annual meeting with Church leaders

  Moderator of General Assembly

  19 May 2007: General Assembly of the Church of Scotland

  19 June 2007: Reception on Sectarianism

  5 December 2007: Meeting to discuss anti-poverty work of Faith in the Community

  31 January 2008: Meeting with outgoing Moderator

  24 June 2008: Dinner at Moderator’s Residence

  09 October 2008: Annual meeting with Church Leaders

  Representatives of Jewish community

  19 June 2007: Reception on Sectarianism

  5 December 2007: Visit to Calderwood Lodge Jewish Primary School

  5 December 2007: Meeting with Jewish Community Representatives

  20 February 2008: Anti-sectarian Art and Drama event

  17 April 2008: Glasgow Jewish Educational Forum event

  Representatives of Muslim community.

  I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15007 on 3 September. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

  In addition the First Minister has attended the following event:

  30 October 2008: Young Scottish Muslims Awards

  Interfaith bodies

  19 June 2007: Reception on Sectarianism

  25 November 2007: Launch of Interfaith Week

  30 November 2007: Our Scotland St Andrew’s Day event

  20 February 2008: Anti-sectarian Art and Drama event.

  George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list each official engagement for which the First Minister has (a) received or (b) accepted an invitation in Fife in September and October 2008.

John Swinney: The First Minister has attended one official engagement in Fife during September and October 2008. He visited Rosyth on 18 September to make an announcement about the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry service. The First Minister receives many thousands of invitations over the course of a year and it is not possible to say how many he has received for engagements taking place in September and October 2008 in Fife.

  George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list each official engagement for which the First Minister has (a) received or (b) accepted an invitation in (i) Edinburgh and (ii) Glasgow in September and October 2008.

John Swinney: The First Minister accepted and attended the following engagements in Glasgow and Edinburgh during September and October 2008:

  Edinburgh Events

  

Date
Event


1 September 2008
Europa Institute


2 September 2008
FISAB meeting


2 September 2008
Royal Blind School


3 September 2008
Edinburgh University – Launch of Informatics Building


3 September 2008
Antonine Wall Reception


10 September 2008
SCDI Board members meeting


10 September 2008
St Andrews Square Gardens launch


10 September 2008
Sun Microsystems Dinner


11 September 2008
Green Energy launch at Mecca Bingo


16 September 2008
Dinner with Chinese Consulate


22 September 2008
SCDI meeting


23 September 2008
FISAB meeting


24 September 2008
Supermarket Summit


25 September 2008
British Irish Council dinner


26 September 2008
British Irish Council


7 October 2008
Reception to mark the 150th Anniversary of signing of Treaty of Amity and Commerce between Japan and UK


8 October 2008
National Economic Forum


8 October 2008
Young Scot Active dinner


31 October 2008
East of Scotland Golf Society dinner



  Glasgow Events

  

Date
Event


17 October 2008
OFGEM dinner


18 October 2008
Strathclyde University Lecture


11 October 2008
Scotland-Norway match


14 October 2008
Meeting with Richard Desmond


14 October 2008
IRC Announcement


14 October 2008
Scottish Cup Announcement


24 October 2008
SGURR Offices opening


24 October 2008
Institute of Mechanical Engineers dinner


30 October 2008
Young Scottish Muslim Awards



  The First Minister receives many thousands of invitations over the course of a year and it is not possible to say how many he has received for engagements taking place in September and October 2008 in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Forced Marriages

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in relation to consultation on the issue of forced marriage.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government’s consultation on whether civil legislation should be introduced to protect those affected by forced marriage will be published later this month.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the most recent level of achievement in admitting patients with strokes to specialist units within 24 hours, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: The relevant NHS QIS clinical standard is that 70% of all patients admitted to hospital with diagnosis of stroke are admitted to a stroke unit within 24 hours of presentation at hospital. The most recent figure for the whole of Scotland was 56% in 2007. Information on each Scottish hospital’s performance against the standard is shown in the following table:

  

NHS Board
Hospital
2007 (%)


NHS Ayrshire and Arran
Ayr Hospital
74


Crosshouse Hospital
62


NHS Borders
Borders General Hospital
63


NHS Dumfries and Galloway
Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary
71


NHS Fife
Queen Margaret Hospital
45


 
Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy
38


NHS Forth Valley
Forth Valley*
47


NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Glasgow Royal Infirmary
49


 
Inverclyde Royal Hospital 
38


 
Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley
58


 
Southern General Hospital
78


 
Stobhill Hospital
26


 
Vale of Leven Dumbarton
30


 
Western Infirmary Glasgow
90


NHS Grampian
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
72


 
Dr Gray's, Elgin
35


NHS Highland
Lorn & Islands, Oban
70


 
Raigmore Hospital
38


NHS Lanarkshire
Hairmyres Hospital
59


 
Monklands Hospital
73


 
Wishaw General Hospital
50


NHS Lothian
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
41


 
St John’s, Livingston
38


 
Western General Hospital 
69


NHS Orkney
Orkney
50


NHS Shetland
Shetland
NR**


NHS Tayside
Ninewells Hospital 
59


 
Perth Royal Infirmary
5


NHS Western Isles
Western Isles
36



  Source: Scottish Stroke Care Audit, National Report on Stroke Services in Scottish Hospitals – Data relating to 2005 – 2007 (Executive Summary), (2008).

  Notes:

  *NHS Forth Valley operates a single stroke service across Stirling Royal Infirmary and Falkirk and District Royal Infirmary.

  **Not Relevant – No data has been recorded as Shetland does not have a Stroke Unit.

  Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of drugs prescribed in NHS Tayside was generic in each of the last two years for which information is available.

Nicola Sturgeon: The rate of generic prescribing in primary care in NHS Tayside for financial year 2006-07 was 83.23% and for 2007-08 was 82.38%.

Housing

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether an equality audit was carried out on the decision to advance up to £100 million under the Affordable Housing Investment Programme and, if so, what action was taken to ensure the needs of disabled people were considered.

Nicola Sturgeon: A formal equalities impact assessment was not carried out on the decision to advance up to £100 million under the Affordable Housing Investment Programme (AHIP). It was necessary for the Scottish Government to act swiftly in response to the changing economic climate, and acceleration of AHIP was part of this package of actions. The bulk of the funding will be used to accelerate projects or acquire land for future projects which will meet needs defined in local housing strategies and which will comply with our usual grant conditions on accessibility. Where funding is sought to support purchase by registered social landlords of completed houses built by private developers these will either meet the improved accessibility measures in the 2007 building regulations or else a special case will have to be made.

  Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that housing built with the advance of up to £100 million under the Affordable Housing Investment Programme will be accessible.

Stewart Maxwell: It is a standard condition of grant for all new build by registered social landlords that Housing for Varying Needs essential features will be provided. This will apply to new build by registered social landlords supported by the advance of £100 million in the same way as it applies to the rest of the Affordable Housing Investment Programme.

  Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that housing built with the advance of up to £100 million under the Affordable Housing Investment Programme will meet Housing for Varying Needs standards and how this will be monitored.

Stewart Maxwell: It is a standard condition of grant for all new build by registered social landlords that Housing for Varying Needs essential features will be provided. This will apply to new build by registered social landlords supported by the advance of £100 million in the same way as it applies to the rest of the Affordable Housing Investment Programme.

  Compliance with grant conditions is monitored as part of Post Completion Reviews.

  Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether owners of static caravan parks are classed as registered social landlords in relation to their obligations to tenants.

Stewart Maxwell: Owners of static caravan parks are not classed as registered social landlords. There are clear statutory criteria that registered social landlords must meet and it is not possible to be "classed" as such for carrying out similar functions, for example, providing temporary accommodation to a local authority.

  The rights and obligations of both park owners and permanent residents are governed by legislation on sites licensed by local authorities, and by conditions set by the licensing authority.

  Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16452 by Stewart Maxwell on 26 September 2008, what work has now been carried out in relation to the amount being brought forward in the Affordable Housing Investment Programme from 2010-11 and what the consequent impact will be on planned units and investment for affordable housing in each local authority in 2008-09.

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15759 by Stewart Maxwell on 16 September 2008 in relation to up to £100 million being brought forward under the Affordable Housing Investment Programme, what progress has been made on securing local authority contributions to the investment amount; what the expected investment is, and how many affordable housing units are expected to be built in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11.

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15759 by Stewart Maxwell on 16 September 2008 in relation to up to £100 million being brought forward under the Affordable Housing Investment Programme, what the (a) revised level of expenditure and (b) number of unit approvals is expected to be for 2008-09 for each local authority.

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15759 by Stewart Maxwell on 16 September 2008 in relation to up to £100 million being brought forward under the Affordable Housing Investment Programme, what the (a) revised level of expenditure and (b) unit approvals are expected to be for 2008-09 for each local authority, broken down by (i) affordable housing for rent by registered social landlords (RSLs), (ii) low-cost home ownership by RSLs, (iii) other suppliers and (iv) open market shared equity scheme.

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15759 by Stewart Maxwell on 16 September 2008 in relation to up to £100 million being brought forward under the Affordable Housing Investment Programme, how much has been (a) released to date, and (b) allocated to each project and what the expected number of unit approvals is for each project.

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the announcement by the First Minister on 19 August 2008 that up to £100 million is being brought forward in the Affordable Housing Investment Programme from 2010-11, when the entire £100 million will be available for allocation.

Stewart Maxwell: Much progress has been achieved since September.

  On 7 October we announced the first £9 million tranche of this accelerated funding which will assist the acceleration of construction activity and the purchase of sites as follows:

  Accelerated Construction Activity

  

LA Area
No. of Projects
2008-09 Est. Spend
Est. Units
Tenure


Moray 
2
£1.441 million 
36
RSL Rent


Argyll and Bute
1
£0.450 million 
10
RSL Rent


Dumfries and Galloway
1
£1.000 million 
310
RSL Rent


Scottish Borders
1
£0.660 million 
33
25 RSL Rent 8 LCHO


Fife
1
£0.500 million 
22
16 Rent 6 LCHO


Total
6
£4.051 million 
411
395 RSL Rent 16 LCHO



  Site Acquisitions

  

LA Area
No. of Projects
2008-09 Est. Spend
Est. Units
Tenure


Highland
5
£1.880 million 
98
To be confirmed


Midlothian
1
£0.600 million 
30
To be confirmed


Argyll and Bute
1
£0.280 million 
17
To be confirmed


Dumfries and Galloway
2
£0.942 million 
51
To be confirmed


South Lanarkshire
1
£1.200 million 
110
To be confirmed


Total
10
£4.902 million 
306
 



  Unfortunately, we are unable to share the site-specific details of these projects at this time given some on-going issues of commercial sensitivity.

  On 24 October COSLA agreed to contribute £40 million to ensure a total of £100 million can be accelerated fro million the affordable Housing Investment Programme (AHIP) in 2010-11 and split £30 million in 2008-09 and £70 million in 2009-10. This acceleration will be funded fro million identified underspends in local and central government budgets and will not adversely affect services or service users on the ground. COSLA is working with local government Directors of Finance to finalise the proposed contributions fro million individual local authorities and a recommendation is expected to be identified shortly for COSLA Leaders to approve.

  The remainder of the £30 million has yet to be announced but work is well underway to identifying the balance of projects required for this financial year. Further announcements will shortly follow. We do not anticipate any difficulties in expending these accelerated monies on strategic priorities this year. We are, however, unable to show the consequent impact that the £30 million accelerated spend will have on planned units and investment for affordable housing in each local authority in 2008-09 given that not all monies have yet been allocated. Given that this funding is accelerated from 2010-11 and is additional to the AHIP programme for 2008-09 announced in May, any expenditure will also be additional to that already planned and will not be to the detriment of other affordable housing activities.

  No decisions have yet been taken on AHIP allocations for 2009-10.

  Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many affordable homes for rent it will deliver between 2008 and 2011.

Stewart Maxwell: The Affordable Housing Investment Programme will deliver 21,500 affordable homes for rent and low cost home ownership over the period 2008-11. The vast majority of these homes will be for rent but the exact proportion is not known and will be settled as the programme is rolled out. In addition to this through the £25 million incentivisation of council housebuilding we would expect to contribute to the delivery of further affordable homes for rent.

  Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many affordable homes to buy it will deliver between 2008 and 2011.

Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17430 on 11 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

  Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether registered social landlords are VAT exempt or otherwise eligible to claim back VAT.

Stewart Maxwell: Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) are required to pay VAT at the appropriate rates on all expenses they incur. Their main activity, the letting of social housing, is an "exempt supply" for the purposes of VAT. This means that RSLs are unable to reclaim from HM Revenue and Customs any input tax they incur in connection with this activity.

  Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent on the Mortgage to Rent scheme in each of the last three years.

Stewart Maxwell: Mortgage to Rent expenditure for the last three financial years was as follows:

  

Financial Year
Spend (£)


2005-06
6.878 million


2006-07
8.176 million


2007-08
9.433 million

Justice

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many fine defaulters are currently held at HM Prison Edinburgh.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  On 27 October 2008, three prisoners were held in custody in HM Prison Edinburgh solely for fine default.

  Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children were born to women in prison in the last five years.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Since November 2003, 24 babies have been born to mothers in custody.

  Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many metal thefts there were in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority area.

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total value of stolen metal was in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority area.

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many convictions there were in relation to metal thefts in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority area.

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many metal dealing licences were revoked in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority.

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many metal dealing exemption warrants were issued in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority.

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many metal dealing licences were issued in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority.

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many licensed metal dealers there were in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority.

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many itinerant metal dealing licences were issued in each of the last 10 years.

Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has offered businesses to combat metal thefts.

Kenny MacAskill: No such advice has been provided. It is primarily for the police to advise on measures to prevent all aspects of crime, including metal thefts.

  Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government on European Union or global attempts to stop illegal metal trading.

Kenny MacAskill: There have been no discussions with the UK Government on European Union or global attempts to stop illegal metal trading and there are no plans at present to discuss the issue.

  Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to strengthen legislation in relation to metal dealing.

Kenny MacAskill: Metal dealing is covered by sections 28 to 37 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. Under those provisions, the 32 local authorities are responsible for licensing metal dealers and itinerant metal dealers. A task group was set up by the previous administration to review the licensing provisions contained in the 1982 Act. We intended to include provisions in the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill to implement recommendations from the group’s report. The recommendations included changes to the metal dealing provisions. However, in the light of the growing concerns about metal thefts we will seek the views of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland on the issues involved and reassess the legislative position in the light of its response.

  Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the threshold is for entitlement to a metal dealing exemption warrant and when this was last changed.

Kenny MacAskill: The threshold for exemption from the need to obtain a metal dealer’s licence is set out in section 29(1) of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. It is currently £100,000 and has not changed since the act came into force. A task group was set up by the previous administration to review the licensing provisions contained in the 1982 act. The group recommended that this threshold should be repealed and we have plans to do this in the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill. It would then be for local authorities to determine whether there should be any exemptions for larger businesses and, if so, what the level of turnover should be.

Local Income Tax

David Whitton (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has commissioned research into the impact of its proposed local income tax on encouraging firms to locate in Scotland.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government raised the issue of the economic impact of a local income tax in its consultation paper, A Fairer Local Tax for Scotland . The report on the consultation responses will include an analysis of such responses. Based on this and other related information gathered, the Scottish Government will outline its proposals and publish a regulatory impact assessment and a financial memorandum when introducing the bill to abolish the council tax and introduce local income tax.

  David Whitton (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has commissioned research into the impact of its proposed local income tax on encouraging talent to locate in Scotland.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government provided its view of this aspect of its local income tax proposals in section 3 (paragraph 35) of A Fairer Local Tax for Scotland :

  "People decide where to live for a variety of reasons, and we believe that the fairer and wealthier Scotland we are building will create an environment where our citizens will want to stay."

  For more information, I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17436 on 11 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

  Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many times it has met HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to discuss HMRC collecting local income tax and on what dates these meetings were held.

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether HM Revenue and Customs was involved in the preparation of the local income tax proposals.

John Swinney: Since May 2007, there has been on-going contact with the UK Government about our local income tax proposals, with the main channel being through HM Treasury.

  Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which aspects of its local income tax proposals will help persuade businesses to set up their corporate headquarters in Scotland.

John Swinney: Our proposals for local income tax, replacing the unfair council tax with a fairer local tax based on ability to pay, form a key part of our vision for a flourishing Scotland with resulting benefits for individuals and business.

NHS Expenditure

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on medicines in hospitals in NHS Tayside in each of the last two years for which information is available.

Nicola Sturgeon: Hospital drugs expenditure in NHS Tayside was £19.036 million in financial year 2006-07 and £17.332 million in 2005-06.

Police

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the thematic inspection report by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland on medical services for people in police custody.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government welcomes this report and recommendations which provide a valuable opportunity to reassess how medical services are provided in police custody in Scotland. The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland is considering the report and its recommendations and will take action as appropriate.

  Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the Tayside Psychiatric Assessment Protocol is used as a model of good practice by other police forces across Scotland.

Kenny MacAskill: Provision of medical services in police custody is determined at a local level. The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland is considering the   report by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland on medical services for people in police custody and will take action as appropriate.

Pre-School Education

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many whole-time equivalent nursery teachers there have been in each of the last three years, also broken down by local authority.

Adam Ingram: This information can be found in the Pre-School and Childcare Census publications for 2006, 2007 and 2008. These can be found on the Scottish Government’s website at the address shown below.

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Children/PubPreSchoolEdChildcare.

Rail Network

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on which banks own, or are part of consortia that own, rolling stock operated on Scotland’s railways, broken down by operating company and type of rolling stock.

Stewart Stevenson: The table below provides a breakdown of the rolling stock that is currently operated under the First ScotRail passenger franchise in Scotland. The rolling stock fleet is owned in part by three different rolling stock leasing companies each of which has a different parent bank group:

  Angel Trains is owned by a consortium of investors including the Babcock and Brown European Infrastructure Fund, Babcock and Brown Public Partnerships, AMP Capital Investors (AMP Capital) and Deutsche Bank.

  HSBC Rail is a member of the HSBC Group.

  Porterbrook Leasing Company Ltd is owned by Abbey, part of the Santander Group, but is being purchased by a consortium of investors including Antin Infrastructure Partners, Deutsche Bank and Lloyds TSB with completion expected before the end of 2008.

  

Type
Class
Number of Units
Rolling Stock Leasing Company


Diesel
156
48
Angel Trains


Diesel
158
40
Porterbrook


Diesel
158
7
Angel Trains


Diesel
170
50
Porterbrook


Diesel
170
9
HSBC Rail


Electric
314
16
Angel Trains


Electric
318
21
HSBC Rail 


Electric
320
22
HSBC Rail


Electric
322
5
HSBC Rail


Electric
334
40
HSBC Rail


Locomotive Hauled Coaching Stock (form part of Sleeper services)
Mark 3 
53
Porterbrook


Locomotive Hauled Coaching Stock (form part of Sleeper services)
Mark 2
22
HSBC Rail



  The Scottish Government does not hold details of the ownership of rolling stock operated by other train operating companies in Scotland.

Rail Services

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the £70 million of reinvestment in the railways to be delivered by ScotRail under the terms of the franchise extension will include a new local service from Edinburgh Waverley to Reston and East Linton.

Stewart Stevenson: The provision of rail services to Reston and East Linton is not one of the priced options secured under the ScotRail franchise extension. However, the option to operate additional services between Edinburgh and Dunbar is part of the franchise extension consultation being carried out by Transport Scotland. If implemented, that option will trigger a study into the feasibility of a Dunbar hourly service and this will also examine the possibility of further services.

Scottish Government Visits

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what overseas visits were undertaken by the Permanent Secretary in each of the last three financial years; what class of travel was used, and what the total cost was.

John Swinney: The Permanent Secretary made the following overseas visits in the last three financial years.

  2005-06 Financial Year

  

Date
Visited
Cost
Class of Travel


24 June 2005
New York
£2,633.70
Business


26 October 2005
Madrid
£827.50
Business


29 January 2006
Lisbon
£923.60
Business


 
Total
£4,384.80
 


2006-07 Financial Year


17 June 2006
Beijing
£3991.45
Business


20 June 2006
Shandong
£107.55
Economy


12 November 2006
Brussels
£510.75
Business


 
Total
£4,609.75
 


2007-08 Financial Year


21 January 2008
Berlin 
£695.33
Business


13 February 2008
Dublin
£281.30
Economy


 
Total
£976.63

Sport

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to promote to disabled people the sport of clay pigeon shooting.

Stewart Maxwell: We support the principle that people with disabilities have access to a wide range of sporting activities. However, it is for the sports governing body, in this instance the Scottish Clay Target Association, to promote the sport of clay pigeon (target) shooting to people with disabilities.

Vaccinations

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people received free flu vaccinations in each of the last three years and what take-up rate this represents, broken down by eligible group and by NHS board.

Shona Robison: Flu vaccinations are provided free to all individuals who fall within the risk groups outlined in the Chief Professional Officers’ letter of September 2008. The total number of people who received flu vaccinations in each of the last three years is summarised in Table 1. This data is based on information provided by the Practitioner Services Division of National Services for Scotland.

  Tables 2a-c set out the percentage of individuals in the age 65 and over category vaccinated in each of the last three years broken down by health board. Tables 3a-c provide statistics relating to the number of individuals vaccinated in the under 65 at risk category, broken down by eligible group and NHS board. The total number of at risk individuals under the age of 65 is unknown, therefore uptake rates for this category cannot be provided. Tables 1, 2a-c and 3a-c are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 46885).

Voluntary Sector

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on volunteering.

John Swinney: We believe volunteering has a major contribution to make in the delivery of our ambitions for a more successful Scotland and the 15 national outcomes. We are supporting the development of new, stronger connections between the third sector, including volunteering, and the community planning partnership in each area to enhance the development and delivery of each single outcome agreement.

  We commend the involvement of volunteering to the public, private and third sectors as a key way to build stronger communities and bring highly flexible and inspiring solutions for people whose lives have been damaged.

  Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support has been given to organisations that promote and support volunteering in the last three years, broken down by name of organisation and amount.

John Swinney: All organisations which involve volunteers to some extent promote and support volunteering. The following table shows only directly-funded national organisations and projects which have the support and promotion of volunteering as a primary aim.

  

 
2006-07 (£)
2007-08 (£)
2008-09 (£)


Volunteer Development Scotland 
900,000
900,000
940,000


Network of Volunteer Centres.
2,415,000
2,533,000
3,234,000


MV Awards
796,500
796,500
Subsumed into Volunteer Centre Network grant.


Voluntary Action Fund
965,361
993,979
1,220,000


Community Service Volunteers (CSV)
75,684
81,100
81,100


CSV Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme (RSVP)
330,000
341,000
355,000


CSV Give and Take
155,000
160,000
40,000 (extension to June 2008)


CSV Give and Gain
21,194
21,500
0


CSV Dare to Care small grant scheme
 
35,150
 


British Trust for Conservation Volunteers
507,698
300,511
364,333

Voluntary Sector

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it provides for older volunteers.

John Swinney: In the current year we are continuing to support the Retired and Senior Volunteering Programme run by CSV to the extent of £352,000 in the final year of a three year grant totalling £1,023,000.

  Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide continued funding for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme run by the Community Service Volunteers (CSV).

John Swinney: I wrote to Claire Stevens, The Director Scotland of CSV, on 3 November 2008 to confirm that our funding is now to be directed to national infrastructure organisations and the remainder, the bulk of the £93 million we have provided in this spending period, will be destined to improve the enterprising performance of the third sector. The Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism confirmed this to the Parliament in the debate on RSVP on Thursday 6 November 2008.